Rail joint



Feb. 16 i926.

`W. R. MCPHETRIDGE RAIL JOINT 2 smetta-sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20, 1925 ide W. R. MCPHETRIDGE.

Feb. 16 1926.

RAIL JOINT Filed Feb. 20, 1925 2 Sheets-$heet Patented F eb. 16, 1926.

PATENT oFFicE.

WILLIAM R. MoEI-IETRIDGE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL

Application filed February To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. MCPHn'r einen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Rail Joint, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in rail joints. i

rThe primary object of this invention is the provision of a boltless rail joint, adapted to be used for the splicing of rail sections in a positive, adjustable, and efficient inanf ner, so that the rail sections may respond to normal expansion and contraction, and are prevented from lateral play.

A further object of this invention is the provision of rail section clamping means to be used at the joint, whereby the rail sections are connected together against lateral play, by means of a boltless clamp structure, which embodies novel means for quickly adjusting the clamping action.

A further and important object of this invention is vthe provision `of a boltless rail clamp, which is particularly well adapted to be used in connection with the boltless connection of rail sections, in an `eflicient and expeditious manner; the invention being particularly desirable for use with tracks which are temporary, and have to be taken up vand laid from time to time, as is the case with mine tracks, temporarysidings, and the like.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved rail joint, which is boltlcss in its action of splicing rail sections together, and which comprises a novel type of bed plate formed to cooperate with wedge members which secure the rail to the bed plate in a reinforced condition against lateral play.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, l j i j Figure l .is a vPlan rev elimine" the mae- JOINT.

20, 1925. Serial No. 10,664.

ner in which the improved rail joint or clamp is `used for securing aligning` sections of a rail upon the ties of railway bed.

Figure 2 is a planview showing certain cooperating details of the improved rail joint, prior to assemblage of the completel structure.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken through the improved rail joint substantially on the line 3- 3 of Figure 1.

Figure t is a side elevation of a novel type of wedge plate which is used in connection with the securing of the rail sections v together and to a base plate.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view ol' a modified form of improved rail joint, embodying features common to the form of invention illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the tie or base plate of the improved joint structure with a novel type of clamp plate cooperatively connected thereto.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional View taken through the improved rail joint in assembled position, substantially on the line 7 7 of Figure 5.

In the drawings wherein are shown. preferred and modified fr rms of the invention, the letters A and B may designate rail sections adapted to be connected by the rail joint structure C upon and between the ties D.

Referring to the preferred form of rail joint C, the same preferablypcomprises a base plate 10, and wedge or side plates 11 and 12. The rail sections A and Bare standard, and comprise the base 14; cen-` trally disposed verticalweb 15; and head 16. At the juncture ofthe side surfaces of the web 15 with the bottom tapered surfaces 18 of the rail head 16, the conventional fillets 19 are provided, having the concaved surfaces l2O, and which are important in that the wedge plates 11 and 12 are received thereagainst to effect the rail splice, as will be :subsequently described. j

As to the base plate 10, the same in the preferred instance is constructed of steel plate' material, which may vary in quality, size, and vother characteristics to suit the weight and` dimensions of the'rails with which it ist@ be used. However, this base plate l() preferably' comprises the fiat body portion 25, of rectangular formation, which at the longitudinal or side edges thereof is provided with the upturned and inwardly inclined overhanging flanges 26 and 27, which provide pockets or groovesj28 extending longitudinally at the side edges ofthe base plate, and which pockets or grooves 2S are open at the end edges 3() of said base plate 10. The overhanging upturned flanges 26 and 27 are inclined at an angle of preferably #150, and the bottoms of the grooves' or isoclrets are preferably concavely arcuate, 'tov cooperate' in providing an eflicient construction upon which the wedge plates 1l and i2 may slide, as will be subsequently described. "lhus, the retaining flanges 26 and 2T are disposed in an in )wardly converging relation towards thehead of the rail adapted to be supported upon the bed plate.

The base platel 10 inwardly ofthe retaining flanges 26 and 27 is preferably provided with the'spaced upwardly bent rail base attaching flanges 30 and 31, which are struclr from thematerialA of the. body 25. During fabrication or prior to'V formation of he rail joint these attaching flanges 30 and 31 are disposed in vertical plane, and they are spaced Vjust sufl'iciently to permit the base of the rail to `be slipped therebetween, so that the side edgesl ofthe rail base engage the same.` The said attaching flanges 30 and 31 after assemblage of the rail base therebetween may be bent over, or

hammered over the base `flange ofthe railk sections A and l are provided. A single pair of attaching flanges 30 and 31 may be provided at the juncture of the rail sections A and l, if found expedient. Contemporaneous with the stamping of the base plate to provide vthe:attacli-.ing flanges 3Q and 3l, it is preferred to provide vertical openings 35 cont'` ions with the said attaching flanges into which the shanlts of` rail base attaching spikes 86 may be driven. substantially as is illustrated in the drawings.

Referring at this time to the assemblage of the improved type of rail joint C, the base plate 10 is preferably of suliieient length that thcvends thereof may rest upon adjacent-lyA spaced ties l). With the attaching flanges'BO and 31 vertically disposed the plate portions of the rail sections A and B are lowered or slipped therebetween, and when the end edges of the said rail sections have been spaced or placed in the desired abutting relatiemthe spiltes 36 aredriven through the openings 35 into the ties D, and the .attaching flanges .SO and. .31; bent over the opposite edges of the rail base tlaiige 14, which securely connects the rail sections to the base plate and` to the bed ties D.

Referring to the side or wedge plates 11 and 12, the saine are of similar construction, and are flat in the form of atrapezoid. These wedge plates are preferably of the `same length as thebase plate 10, although they may be longer or shorter if desired, and each of the same includes the straight edge t() which is transversely convexly arcuated, and which is arranged in a line at right angles tothe straight end edges 11-1 and The opposite straight edge el, which long gitudinally extends at the opposite side ofy the wedge plate ifroin the longitudinal straight edge at() is disposed in a converging' relation with the straight edge 4:0, and this edge 4.3 is transversely convexly actuated 0r rounded.

rlhe side or wedge plates 1l and l2 serve as wedges when driven into place, and these 'ilates are positioned at opposite sides of the qail within the grooves or pockets 28 formed by the retaining flanges 25 and 2. with the upper edges thereofdisposed in a slidi relation against the fillets 19 beneath the rail head 16.- Since these wedge 4plates have a widtlrwnich runiformly varies from end to end, and :,ire'rouiided at their longitudinal edges', to render them non-cutting, they may be yreadily forced into the positionr nientioned, and locked therein incident to their wedge action. The plates 11 and 12 are driven into place from opposite ends of the base plate, as is illustrated .in Figure 1 of the drawings` to render the wedging action more eliicient in the functions of reinforcing and locking the rail joint. As is illustrated in Figure 1 the primary wedging action preferablyleaves the driving ends of the wedge plates l1 and 12 slightly protruding from the end edges Vof the base plate '1.0, so that at any future' time Iif the rail joint is loosened, as to permit lateral play or vibration of the rail sections, the same may be tightened merely by a. trackman hitting the protruding ends of the wedge plates to tighten the rail joint. lThewedging action is accomplished because ofthe action of the wedge-shaped side plates `between the grooves ofthe base plate and. the surfaces formed at the juncture of the rail web and head, since the spacing of these grooves and surfaces is constant throughout the length of the base plate. The wedge plates may be easily driveninto place, and are prevented frolnyreturn movement by their frictional engagement with the rail sect-ions. lf, how-- ever, is fr )und'that vibration loosens the wedgi g action, 'stop y"d vicesI may be placed at `the'protiaiding ends of the wedge plates to maintain the wedging position. Tl

nis is merely a, refinement and has not been .illustrated in the drawings; rllie taper ol' the edge with respect to the edge Ll() may vary, but for eflicient purposes has been found to comprise a. taper of ML in 20. lVhen in place the wedge plates are disposed at an angle of substantially 4:50, and they are locked in place against any lateral movew ment.

ln the forni of rail joint C it is contemplated to construct the base plate l0 and side plates ll and l2 of steel plate material. However, it lis recognized that under Vcertain circumstances of use it may be desirable to `form the rail joint base plate of castA material, and in this ease special steel plate attaching means. for connect-ing` the cast bed plate to t-he rail will have to be provided. Such a construction Iis provided by m'y improved rail joint E, which comprises a east bed plate cast wedge plates 5l and 52; and a steel clamping` plate 53. The rail joint lil is adapted to be used with heavy steel rails, and the section G and H thereof have parts which are numbered identical with the parts of the sections A and B in F igure l of the drawings. lhe wedge plates 50 and 5i are of identical wedging` construction with the plates ll and 1:2 of the form of rail joint C, and the same characteristics feature in the plates 50 and las have been given the wedge plates ll and 12. Y The wedge plates 50 and 51, however, are preferably cast, and are thicker than the wedge plates 11 and l2. The cast base plate 50 comprises the flat body portion 55, having' the upwardly converging` longitudinal side flanges 56 and 57 overhanging slightly the body 55, to provide the longitudinal inwardly facing` pockets or grooves 59 and 6() adapted to receive the lower edge portions of the wedge plates 5l and 52, in the manner above described for the rail joint C. The base plate body is preferably provided with a pair of parallel longitudinally extending' slots Gl and 69, substantially midway of the endsof the base plate 50, which are spaced so that when the rail is applied the vertical slots 6l and 62 will extend upwardly flush with the outer marginal edges of the rail. base flange 14.

The steel clam-ping' plate is preferably of stock material, and is bent into a U-shaped forn'iation to provide a connecting` body portion G5 which lies beneath the base plate body 55, and furthermore includes the'upwardly extending end attaching flanges G7 and G8 which are adapted to project upwardly through the slots 61 and 62 r aspectively. Y after they vhave been assembledv in the re lation illustrated in the dotted lines in Figure 7 of the drawing` have their in awardly projecting; ends flanged over, atTO, into overlapping abutting and locking engagement with the rail flange 14, to lock the rail to the base plate. It is to be particularly notedthat 'the clampingfplate 53 rl`he attaching flanges. G7 and 68 applied between the road bed ties D, so that the same may be not interfere with the laying of the base plate 5() at its ends upon said ties D. The operating'features of the rail oint E, other than the. attaching plate 53 are the saine for the form of-rail joint C, and the body 55 of the base plate 50 is provided with vertical passageways 68 therein for receiving the attachingspihes G9.

Frein the foregoing' description of this invention it is apparent that a novel type of rail oint'has been provided, which is used in a novel boltless manner forthe effective securing` of rail sections together. The oint does not necessitate the punching of the rail webs for splice bolts, and does not interfere with other construction of the ties or rail sections. The rail joint is simple to construct, comprising parts which may be economically fabricated, and it embodies a novel adjusting' feature by which the rail sections may be tightened at the joints. from time to time, should any play be occasioned by reason of vibration; thisy adjustment beinn` secured by merely niovement of the wedge plates in the manner above described into the base plate.

Various changes in the weights and dimensions, as well as alterations in the shape and arrangement of parts be made to the base plates, wedge plates, and clamping features of the forms of Vthis invention, to conform to the circumstances and the type of rail with which the improved rail joints are being' used, without departing,1 from the spirit ofthe `invention or the scope of the claims. i

I claim:

l. As an article of manufacture a base plate for rail joints comprising` a flat body yportion having, upwardly extending' bendable attaching flanges formed in `laterally spaced relation therein and inwardly of the longitudinal edges thereof.

2. ls an article of manufacture a base plate for rail joints 'comprising a dat body portion having upwardly extendingr bendable attaching;` flanges formed in laterally spaced relation therein and inwardly ofthe lonfijitudinal ledges thereof, said base plate at the opposite longitudinal edges thereof having' upwardly extending and inwardly inclined retaining` flanges providin inwardly facing),` grooves opened at the endsof said base plate. i

As an article of manufacture. wedge plate for rail oints comprising;` an elongated .flat `metal plate having; the opposite lonritudinal edges thereof disposed in a converging relation from one end of the plate to the other so that the same varies `in widtl'i from one end to the other, sai-fl conrergi. ,l longitudinal 'edges being' convexly arcuated in' cross section to provide. non-cutting' edje u a rail including abase, a web and a headl a base plate beneath the rail having attaching flanges extending upwardly in spaced relation on the base to secure the rail to the base plate, said base plate providing the heads of said rails to wedge the railA and base plate into locking engagement.

5. In a rail joint the combination with arail including a base, a web and head, a base plate beneath he rail having attaching anges extending upwardly in spaced relation on the base to secure the rail to the base plate, said base plate providing laterally extending' portions at opposite sides of said base of the rail, said laterally extending portions having upwardly extending retaining flanges to provide longitudinal inwardly facing grooves open at the ends of the base plate, wedge plates adapted to be driven into said grooves in upwardly converging relation in engagement beneath the head of said rail to .wedge the rail and base plate into locking engagement, and spikes Jfor securing the rail through thebase plate to ties beneath the base plate.

6. In a rail joint construction the combination with a 'pair of rail sections and railway ties, a, base plate seated upon said ties iii-bridging relation therebetween, said baseplate having upwardly extending attaching flanges in laterally spaced relation thereon, said rail sections being adapted to be placed upon said base plate with the attaching flanges at opposite sides of the base of the rail sections, said base plate having laterally extending portions at opposite sides of the rail sections providing grooves inwardly facing towards said rail sections, spikes securing the rail sections to the base plate and to the tics, and wedge plates slidable inwardly at opposite ends of the basepla-te between the longitudinal pockets thereof and the heads of the rail sections.

ln a boltless rail joint the combination with a rail including a base, aweb, and an enlarged head. a. base plate of a width greater Ythan the width of the rail base and extending laterally at opposite sides of the rail base, said base plate having upwardly extending and inwardly inclined retaining flanges providing longitudinal grooves opening at the ends of the base plate, means securing the base plate Vto the rail, and up- Y wardly converging wedge plates extending from abutment in the grooves of said retaining flanges to abutment .at the juncture of tbehead and web ,Of said rail, said .wedge plates being adapted to be driven inwardly at opposite ends of the base plate into locking wedging engagement between the retaining anges and rail head.

8. In combination with a rail section and a 'railroad tie, a base plate mounted on the tie having the rail section mounted thereon, said base plate at the side edges thereof having retaining flanges extending beyond the lateral edges of the rail section, spike means connecting the rail section to the ties and the base plate, and wedge plates formed to be driven into wedging relation between the retaining flanges and rail section is` noninterfering relation above the spikes.

9. In combination with a rail section and a railroad tie, a base plate mounted on the railroad tie, said rail section being disposed on the base plate, said base plate being wider than the rail section and laterally of the sides of the rail section having upwardly extending attaching flanges of a bendable nature adapted to be bent over into securing relation upon the rail section to fixedly attach the same against relative movement with respect to the base plate, said base pla-te furthermore having Aside retaining flanges laterally of the attaching flanges above mentioned, spike means securing the rail section and base plate to the tie, and` wedge plates adapted to be diagonally positioned in wedging relation between the rail section and retaining flanges at opposite sides of the rail section and above said spike means in `a non-interfering relation therewith.

l0. In a rail securing means the combination with a rail section and a railroad tie, a base plate adapted to rest upon the tie and to have the rail section rest thereon, said base plate inwardly of the side edges thereof having upwardly struck attaching Hanges of a bendable nature adapted to be bent into securing relation over the rail section, saidl base plate laterally of said attaching flanges having grooved retaining flanges at opposite sides of the rail section, spike means securing the rail section and base plate to the tie, said spike means including heads, and wedge means between the rail section and retaining flanges at opposite sides of the rail section for wedging the 'rail section in stable position upony the base plate. y

ll. In means for attaching rails to ties the combinationy with a tie and a rail section, a base plate adapted to rest on the tie, and to have the 'rail section rest thereon, said base plate being wider than the rail section,

ing along the sides of the iail section in spaced relation with the base of the rail section and fiat Wedge plates disposed at opposite sides of the rail section in a converging relation each engaging at a lower edge thereof in a retaining flange of the base platf and therefrom extending diagonally upward into engaging relation at its upper edge beneath the head of the rail section, said Wedge plates when so positioned be- 10 ingentirely disposed above the heads oi' the spikes in a noninte1fe1ing spaced 'relation therewith.

WILLIAM R. MCPHETRIDGE. 

